Despite an increased interest in autism over the last decades, little research exists about life outcomes of autistic adults. The earliest follow-up studies of autistic individuals suggested that self- understanding and conscious efforts to change could be crucial factors in successfully reaching good life outcomes. However, these initial suggestions have not been further investigated. Therefore, this exploratory qualitative study examined the lives of eight highfunctioning autistic adults aged 25 to 63, from their own perspectives, through in-depth, semistructured interviews, to consider the relation of self-understanding and conscious efforts to change—in this study referred to as intentional personal development—to their life outcomes. All participants demonstrated a level of self-understanding beyond what would be predicted by current theoretical models of autism. Their self-understanding was assessed through participants’ self-definitions, meaning-making of life experiences, and understanding of emotions. In their self-definitions, the participants emphasized their abilities and personality characteristics, rather than their disabilities. For their self-defining memories, as indicators of their meaning making of life experiences, most participants chose positive experiences related to their personal development. Their autobiographical accounts revealed that most participants possess a large iii repertoire of emotion words, supporting an understanding of emotions. When a good life outcome is defined traditionally—as being employed, living independently, and having social relationships—this study, contrary to expectations, did not provide overwhelming evidence for the significant role of intentional personal development in achieving this. However, when a good life outcome is defined in terms of achieving personal excellence, then the study did provide confirmation of intentionality as important to attaining good life outcomes. This study therefore suggests that traditional life outcome measures are inadequate for assessing the life outcomes of autistic individuals because such measures do not take into account the individuals’ own sense of satisfaction with themselves and with their lives.

It is a common practice for therapists-in-training and experienced therapists to ensure their self-care and ethical competency requirements through seeking and maintaining therapeutic counselling when dealing with significant personal concerns (Moulden & Firestone, 2010; Everall & Paulson, 2004; Spelliscy, 2009; Pope, Sonne, & Green, 2006; Amundson, 2009; Tjetviet & Gottlib, 2010). However, therapists-in-training and experienced therapists have reported challenges and barriers that arise when making the decision to seek and maintain therapy. Some of these challenges and barriers of seeking and maintaining therapy noted in the current research literature, includes concerns of public and self stigmas, a fear of emotion, fear of treatment, confidentiality concerns, difficulties with the choice, accessibility, and acceptability of therapists’ credentials or educational programs, and the actual financial costs associated with obtaining therapy (Dearing, Maddux, & Tangney, 2005; Komiya, Good, & Sherrod, 2000; Holzman, Searight, & Hughes, 1996; Ey, Henning, & Shaw, 2000; Siebert & Siebert, 2007; Barnett & Hillard, 2011; Gilroy, Carroll, & Murra, 2002; Siebert, 2005). Similarly, current research literature regarding the challenges and barriers that Asian individuals face when deciding to seek or maintain therapeutic counselling, have also reported a list of institutional and sociocultural barriers to seeking services (Shea & Yeh, 2008; Sue & Sue, 2003; Braun, Tanji, & Heck, 2001; Park & Kim, 2008; Tsang, Tam, Chan, & Cheung, 2003; Chen & Mak, 2008; Akutse & Chu, 2006; Zane & Yeh, 2002). Acculturation is the process of adapting to behaviours, values, knowledge, and identity of the dominant society (Kim & Abreu, 2001). It has been found, that different levels of acculturation will affect an individual’s level of tolerance towards social, professional, and cultural stigmas, as well as their level of confidence in seeking therapy (Zhang & Dixon, 2003). Leong & Lau, 2001, stated that an individual’s level of acculturation has a major influence on the attitudes towards seeking therapy. It is these themes in the current research literature on the challenges and barriers to seeking and maintaining therapy that resonated with my own personal experience navigating through the mental health system for therapeutic support as a first generation Asian individual, therapist-in-training. Being an acculturated first generation Asian and therapist-in-training, through careful consideration, I use analytic autoethnography as my methodology to explore, reflect, and share my experiences and journey navigating through my self-care journey before and after my father’s death. With the use of analytic autoethnography, I bring together parallels between my personal experience with what themes are noted in current research literature on the challenges and barriers to seeking and maintaining therapy.

This study was aimed at the description of how to support the emotional awareness of the primary school child through Gestalt Play Therapy. The research strategy enclosed case studies. A supportive literature study was done with regard to awareness, emotional awareness, emotional intelligence, emotional skills, social skills, self-esteem, the primary school child and Gestalt Play Therapy. In the implementation of the research study two case studies were described. The sampling method was based on a non-probability sampling technique. The criteria of the respondents were emotional and social inadequate functioning. Case study one functioned emotional and social inadequately as a result of the family moving. Case study two was involved in bullying activities at the school. Respectively ten and eleven therapeutic sessions of one hour each over a period of ten and eleven weeks were conducted. Both children did benefit from the Gestalt Play Therapeutic intervension. Their awareness with regard to themselves and their own experience brought them in contact with themselves, which is necessary for healthy child development. / Social Work / M.Diac.(Play Therapy) / Text in Afrikaans

The thesis deals with the research motivation organized children and youth for breeding in the Czech Republic. The theoretical part describes aspects and effects of pet supplies such as leisure activities. Specific educational aspects of breeding activities in personal development. It also describes the issues and going through breeding for the protection of animals and nature. The practical part includes the preparation and implementation of research organized by the motivation of children and young people from different breeders' organizations operating in the country. It details and comments on the results of the research and is divided according to other criteria. Represents Czech Breeders Association as a volunteer non-profit organization working with children and youth organizing prestigious international competition for young breeders Olympics.

The present study attempted to assess the effectiveness of the Zimbabwean secondary school guidance and counselling services from school counsellors' and students' perspective. Available literature shows that students worldwide, including Zimbabwe, experience problems which schools should solve through the provision of guidance and counselling. It was therefore, important to the researcher to assess the effectiveness of the school guidance and counselling services in meeting students' concerns. The research design consisted of a literature and an empirical study. The survey method was used in the empirical study. A self constructed questionnaire was used. Three hundred and fourteen school counsellors and 636 students participated in this study. The SAS/STAT version 9.1 was used to analyse the data. One way and combined two way frequency tables were calculated. Ratios were calculated to establish the relative rating of each item. Chi-square tests were also calculated. The study revealed that there were differences between the level of the school guidance and counselling services in Zimbabwean secondary schools and the international arena. For example, school guidance and counselling services policy in Zimbabwe was not mandatory as compared to the international policies. The Zimbabwean school guidance and counselling services were not always planned for at the beginning of each year, Students and parents were not frequently involved in needs assessment while the services were not frequently evaluated in comparison with those in the international arena. The study also revealed that some biographical variables significantly influenced the way the respondents responded to given items while others did not. The study revealed that the majority of both school counsellors and students viewed the school guidance and counselling services as beneficial and school counsellors as effectively playing their role. The study further revealed that the effectiveness of the Zimbabwean secondary school guidance and counselling services was negatively affected by lack of resources and training in guidance and counselling and non-counselling duties performed by school counsellors. Recommendations for future approaches and strategies in secondary school guidance and counselling services in Zimbabwe are made. Areas for further research are proposed. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

This paper is a Master Thesis studying the human need for Self-Fulfillment, presented as the equivalent of Self-Actualization, in the context of entrepreneurship. The problems identified in the field are the lack of literature on Self-Actualization in entrepreneurship although it is something observed in the world, the lack of empirical data in the field of motivation, and finally the fact Self-Actualization is a need leading an individual to contribute to his or her surrounding (unlike other needs), which makes understanding its consequences and origin all the more important. Two aspects were chosen to cover the topic: tracing the origin of the need and understanding how entrepreneurs fulfill it (for those using their compa-ny for that purpose). To do so, interviews consisting of 4 themes were carried out with 12 individuals having started and running their company (both genders, various cultural backgrounds, with companies of various size, age and industry), and driven by the need to Self-Fulfill. The main findings are the fact the individual’s mindset and attitudes seem to be what enables him or her to reach Self-Actualization, and these human qualities and characteristic could be gathered under the terms “Personal Development”. Also some people felt the need to Self-Actualize before starting the venture and thus have an idea of how to contribute: the company be-comes only a step in the process. Others reached the need after starting the company and see it as a set of opportunities to Self-Actualize. In both case however, a holistic view over the firm seems to be the only way to truly actualize through it: every aspect of the business needs to be focused on helping and improvement (not just the business idea). Finally, by expanding the findings made in entrepreneurship, this paper suggests that in general, Personal Development may  lead to society’s improvement and provides some suggestions to continue the study.

The aim of the thesis is to analyse the governance of educational staff output in the nursery environment. The thesis highlights the need for governance based on the control of human resources agreed between the nursery director and the educational staff regarding the future work output. The theoretical part is concerned with the interactions between governance and personal work effort. The key terms of personal work effort, governance and the content of work output are defined in accordance with expert literature. The practical part deals with research investigations within the nursery environment with the aim of analysing the governance of educational staff. It will provide information as to whether nursery directors have formal governance contract in place with their staff with respect to the expected work output and whether the educational staff have a plan of personal development. It will additionaly analyse how both nursery directors and educational staff use the assessment of their future work and whether the staff are provided with feedback. A questionnaire will be used to enable the research. Based on the questionnaire results a semi-structured interview with the nursery director and analysis of nursery documents will be conducted.

This thesis charts the developments that have occurred in the field of managerial education specifically from the perspective of the current trends in educational programmes both in the Czech Republic as well as abroad. The theoretical section of the thesis consists of a pilot study aimed at the demand for educational and developmental programmes amongst a selected research sample of managers and also at an analysis of the supply offered by a sample of educational organisations located in the City of Prague. Based on the information that was gathered, certain conclusions were drawn and recommendations made for modifying the study programmes offered by the Faculty of Management of the University of Economics.

This thesis deals with the issue of adaptation of new employees in ŠKODA AUTO a.s., particularly of those who joined the company under the "Growth strategy 2018" for "system organizer" job positions -- SAP consultants. The company has been awarded for being one of the best employers in the past years and the system of human resource management and employee care is very advanced, however there was a demand in the "Information systems and organization" department to come up with its own way to adapt new employees concretely on SAP environment beyond the regular plans in the company. The goal of this thesis is thus to analyze current general practices in the company, present arguments for the new concept of adaptation on SAP, create that concept and then evaluate it through employees' feedback. The thesis, among other things, focuses on the whole process of the creation of the adaptation, including its administration and themes. The research of the opinions of the employees will review the present results of the adaptation and will give a base for decisions on how to continue with this effort. All activities in this process were done by the author himself while being an intern in the company and member of the adaptation project team. The target of the effort and the thesis itself is to have the adaptation project green lighted for the future continuation and to eliminate premature terminations of contracts of employment, which is why the SAP adaptations were thought of in the first place. The new concept of adaptation will benefit the company, the new employees, the creators of the concept, the tutors and the author and can act as an exemplar for other departments.

En sökning på ledarskapsutveckling via Google och databasen APA PsycInfo renderar sammanlagt drygt 200 000 träffar. Detta tyder på ett stort intresse för ledarskapsutveckling. Syftet med uppsatsen är att studera hur deltagare tar sig an uppgiften att bearbeta samt eventuellt vidareutveckla upplevelser samt förändringar som tar plats under och efter en UGL kurs. Frågeställningarna berör ämnen runt hur de i sin ledarroll arbetat med inhämtade kunskaper och hur de som individer upplever att de har påverkats. Vi intervjuade sex ledare från mellersta och södra Sverige som deltagit på en UGL kurs under 2019. Vi använde oss av en semistrukturerad intervju där valet föll på att bearbeta insamlad empiri med hjälp av en tematisk analys. Det som framkom när det gällde ledarrollen var utveckling av tydlighet, trygghet samt effekter av det egna ledarskapet och behovet av användbara verktyg. Det mest utmärkande på det individuella planet var att deltagarna upplevde att de fick kunskaper om sig själv. Grupputvecklingens betydelse var ett ämne som de flesta frekvent återkom till under intervjuerna. Trots det ringa, men ändå väl geografiskt spridda respondentdeltagandet, har vi fått ett relativt fylligt resultat. Detta gav insyn i deras upplevelser av hur kursen har påverkat dem, kunskaper de förvärvat som ledare och inverkan det haft på dem som individer. / When searching for leadership development at Google and the database APA PsycInfo you get a about 200,000 hits. This indicates interest for the subject. The purpose of this essay is to study how the participants handle the processing and possible further develop experiences and changes that takes place during and after a course in UGL. The issues concern topics about how they, in their role as a leader, have worked with obtained knowledge. The issues concern topics about how they, in their role as a leader, have worked with acquired knowledge and the effect on them as an individual. We interviewed six leaders from central and south part of Sweden who, during 2019, has participated in a UGL course. We used semistructured interviews and choose to process the collected data using a thematic analysis. The most important thing that emerged about the role of the leader were the development of clarity, security and the effects of the individual leadership and the need for useful tools. The most characteristic on an individual level was gaining good knowledge about yourself. Group development was the topic that most frequently were mentioned during the interviews. Despite the small but well geographically dispersed participation of respondents, we provide insight into their experiences of how they got affected by the course, knowledge they acquired as leaders and the influence it had on them as individuals.